"Mac...nolia" DIY Favor Box

I had this favor box in mind for over a week, since I saw the new inspiration for OTWC Challenge #34. Love these soft colors of peach and blue. How about that cherry branch? Wouldn't it make a great painting?

(image sources found here)

Little did I know than that my dear husband would bring so much contribution to my project. First he changed a burnt light bulb and was so sweet to ask me if I wanted the box. Oh, yes, I did want it, I had already put my eye on it and I was so delighted he had thought of me that way.


This is a great way to make your own wedding favors and recycle some of your day to day life packaging. So start collecting some boxes and put them to good use. Ask your friends and neighbors to bring theirs too. I think different size and shapes boxes would look beautiful on a candy buffet.

Carefully open the box flat.


Apply an even coat of white glue on the outside of the box taking care not to have too much.


Adhere the box to the back of a pattern paper of your choice.

Cut out around the box, fold and glue the box in place.

Embellish as you like. I used a parchment flower that I made myself, but you can buy paper flowers to save some time.

Now this flower is called Mac...nolia. No, it's not a mistake, although someone commented about my poor English. This is how my husband called it when I asked him what flower it resembled. I should tell you he is not great with flower names so he first called it a "mac" which is the Romanian for "poppy". I told him I wanted to make a poppy but this one looks more like a magnolia so he corrected himself: "Mac..nolia!". I had a great laugh and told him this is going to be the flowers name.

This is it for today but I have another beautiful wedding project to share tomorrow.

Pencil Holder in Winter Outfit (Suport de creioane in haine de iarna)

I guess you all know about my obsession to recycle and reuse.
It just breaks my heart to throw those cans to the bin so I saved a few to see how I can reuse them. How about his new pencil holder dressed up for winter? You could make a bunch and use them to organize your coloring tools.

Cred ca deja toata lumea stie de obsesia mea pentru a reclica si reutiliza diverse lucruri. Mi se rupe inima sa arunc cutiile de conserva la gunoi, asa ca am pastrat cateva sa vad cum le pot reutiliza. Iata de exemplu acest nou suport de creioane imbracat in haine de iarna. Ati putea sa va faceti mai multe pentru organizarea diverselor creioane, pixuri etc.




Speaking of reuse, last week I took part in a workshop focused on this.
The workshop was held in an old factory that has been repurposed and now serves as workshop space for different artists, exhibitions and other cultural manifestations.

We made light shades from toilet paper and twine, pillows from eco leather from a factory's waste deposit and, my favorite, a baroque chandelier and mirror frame from cardboard.

Apropo de reutilizare, saptamana trecuta am participat la un atelier pe acesta tema organizat in cadrul Fabricii de Pensule din Cluj. Pentru cei care nu stiu, acestei foste uzine i s-a schimbat destinatia, gazduind acum ateliere ale diversilor artisti, sali de expozitii etc.

Am facut lampi din hartie igienica si din ata, perne din piele ecologica provenita din resturile unei fabrici de confectii si, preferatul meu, un candelabru si o rama de oglinda in stil baroc din carton.

making a twine globe (realizarea unui glob din ata)

measuring and cutting leather (masurand si taind piele)

drawing the chandelier template (desenarea sablonului pentru candelabru)

cutting up the sponge to fill the pillows (taiat burete pentru umplutura perne)

Cuttlebug Be Inspired #55: Live in the Sunshine (Traieste in razele soarelui)

Hi everyone. Time for Cuttlebug Be Inspired #55.

Salut, e timpul pentru Cuttlebug Be Inspired #55. Deoarece acest articol este destul de lung, va rog sa folositi widgetul Google Tanslate din dreapta pentru traducere. Daca e ceva ce nu intelegeti, lasati un comment si va raspund cu placere.

This week we are having a new sponsor: My Favorite Things. So your challenge is to make a card/project featuring YOUR favorite things. Check the Cuttlebug Challege Blog for details.

One of my favorite things is the sun. I can get really sad when the sun is not out there.


This card is a representation of the way the autumn sun plays in the colourful leaves and makes them shine.


I'm pretty sure you know how to make this card so I will just share a few things.

The craft paper is actually recicled from some old files that my husband wanted to throw away and I kept them for "you never know when I need them".

The leaves are stamped on vellum, some are embossed with gold embossing powder and then colored with acrylic paint in a mix of autumn colors. Use water resistant inks or emboss. You could also hand draw or print your leaves.

The stamping. I made a mask and masked the lower part of the stamp so it seems the lady is walking in the park. I drew the hat freehand. Tip: if you are not secure on your drawing, stamp your image on scrap paper several times and draw hats on them. Cut out the image you are happy with and use it as template to draw the hat when you make the actual card.

Products used: Paper: Core'dinations Black Magic, recicled cardstock file; Ink: Black Staz-on, Black pigment from StudioG; Tools: Score'it, Cuttlebug with *Harlequin* folder; Stamp: MFT